Balanced door construction



July 12, 1960 Filed July 5, 1956 J. A. GULICK ET AL BALANCED DOOR CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 l In. I llIm INVENTORS John A. Gulmk July 1960 J. .A. GULICK ETAL BALANCED DOOR CONSTRUCTION S Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1956 m JNVENTORS dohn A. Guh'ck dohn 0. Cafleff 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. A. GULI CK ETAL BALANCED DOOR CONSTRUCTION July 12, 1960 Filed July 5, 1956 INVENTORS John A. Guh'ck By John 0.08m Armb/vzxg United States Patent 2,944,281 BALANCED noon CONSTRUCTION John A. Gulick, Tulsa, and John C. Catlett, Oklahoma City, Okla, assignors' toRoto-Swing Door Company, Inc., Oklahoma City, Okla., a corporation of Oklahoma Filed July 5, 1956, Ser. No. 595,978

1 Claim. (Cl. 16--55) This invention relates to a combination balanced door and operator, and more partciularly, but not by way of limitation, to a door having a hydraulic operator mounted within the door and adapted for closingtthe door, and checking its closing'movement. v

In present day swinging doors utilizing an operator or door check, they have usually been mounted in the'floor below the door, thereby necessitating a special floor construction cooperating with the hinged portion of the swinging door. The actuating spring for the door'is mounted in a housing disposed in the vertical door jamb, such as that shown in the prior art patent 'to E. H. Ellison, No. 7

2,019,527, issued November 5, 1935', The balanced door of the present invention features a horizontally swinging door having a connecting member between the vertical door jamb and the door which is oil-set so that the door inopen position will extend on both sides of the door jamb about which it rotates in the general manner as shown in the Ellison patent'above referred to and other similar patents in the art. In these types of oif-set doors, the mounting of the hydraulic operator or door check in the floor cooperating with the actuating spring in the vertical door jamb involves a considerable amount of special construction which is not only costly, but in many instances, is inefiicient. V

The present invention is generally concerned with a balanced door construction having'the hydraulic operator disposed in the lower frame or leaf of 'the door in a compact assemblythat is easily removable and replaced without the necessity of taking the door apart, and yet provide for an efiicient operation through combining the action of the hydraulic operator and the spring into a single function.

It is an important object of thisinvention to provide a balanced door that may be efliciently operated with a minimum of physical efiort in order to close smoothly, easily and quietly under its own power, regardless of varying wind direction, stack drafts and pressure differentials thatoccur in many building constructions.

And still another object; of this invention is to provide a combined balanced door" and hydraulic operator therefor which will give a continuous efficient operation With durability and long life in an-expeditijous'manner.

And still another objectof this invention is to provide a combined balanced'door and hydraulic operator wherein the-hydraulic operator in complete assembly utilizes a simple and inexpensive mechanism for increasing the, swinging movement of the door; and the unit is sealed into a single action thereby providing a simple and direct operation which is more smooth and eliminates any distribution of distortive forces on the door.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a combined door and operator which permits the use of modern door construction such as metal extrusions provid--' ing for greater glass areas, and which is constructed in a manner that will permit a full ninety degree opening thereby providing a more durable, economical and serviceable door.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illus= trate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the door struc ture constructed in'accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a broken sectional elevational view of the combined door structure and operator. v

Figure 3 is a partial'horizontal cross sectional view havingthe usual vertical door jamb 4, alintel 6 and ai right jamb 8. 'Of course, in double door construction fluid tight againstany leakage of the hydraulic fluid from a the right jamb 8 is removed. As shown in Fig, l, the construction is only shown for a single door, but not limited thereto. The balanced door 2 includes an upper leaf 1t) and a lower leaf 12 supported by verticalstiles 14 and l6,'respectively. The lower leaf 12 is disposed ad jacent the top of the threshold or floor 18 in the usual manner. 7

Referring to Fig. 2, the vertical jamb 4 adjacent to which the door is hinged is preferably of hollow con-' struction in which is disposed an'upstanding tubular shaft 24 extending from the top of the top leaf 10 to the lower leaf 12. A stud member 21 is disposed, in the lower.- portion of the housing 20 and is held therein by suitable; threaded studs 22. The shaft 21 has an extension 23 of reduced size adapted to ride in a ball bearing 24 disposed in a recessed floor plate 25 secured to the fioo'r 1 8 by suitable studs 26 as shown. The upper portion of the tubular housing 20 is provided with a similar shaft 28 held in the housingby threaded members 29, and provided with an upper extension'30 disposed in a ballv bearing 31 carried by a suitable track member 32 provided in the lintel 6. In this manner through the ver-] tically disposed tubular housing 20, the door is held proper vertical alignment with the vertical jambsand is supported at the top and the base by sealed bearings having great durability. I

An ofiS-set arm 34 is secured to the lower stud member 21 by suitable'threaded studs 35. The arm 34" extends horizontally outward for disposition into a cut-away or recessed portion 36 of the lower 'leaf' 12. In similar mau ner, an o'ii-set arm 38 is anchored by suitable means(not shown) to the upper stud 28' and extends horizontally outward for disposition in a cut-away'or recessed portion 39 of the upper leaf 10. 'The upper off-set arm 38 is pro- 1 held in a recessed end portion 47 of the arm 34 by a 3 suitable pin 46. The outer end portion of the arm 34 may be a separate piece secured to the arm 34 in any suitable manner (not shown) or may be made in one piece, as is desired. In Fig. 2 it is shown as a separate piece, but secured thereto in a manner not shown. It will thus be apparent that the oif-set arms 34 and 38 during an opening of the door 2 will rotate opposite to the normal swing of the door and cooperating with the action of the track assembly 48 will permit the heel of the (1061' as indicated at 49 (Fig. 1) to move away from the jamb 4 as the door is opened. The track assembly 48 comprises a threaded stud member 48a adjustable in a plate member 4811 secured to the upper door leaf 1t} and having a bearing member 480 cooperating with a recess portion 32a of a track member 32. In this manner the door may be moved to a position whereby forty percent of the door is on one side of the jamb 4 and sixty percent on the opposite side when the door is in full open position. There is a particular advantage in this principle of using an otf-set balanced door as has been set forth in previous patents, such as the Ellison patent referred to, in that the air pressure will work against the two "corresponding areas of the door with opposite pressure effect, thereby counter-balancing the pressures and eliminating to a considerable extent the problems of wind and other pressures effective during opening and closure.

It 'is' to be noted that the top pivot assembly of the elf-set arm 38 as represented by stud shaft 44 and ball bearings 41 is in substantial vertical alignment with the pivotstud'45'of the lower off-set arm 34, thereby assisting in providing for a smoother and easier operation of the door opening and closure. This smoother action is also due to the fact that the weight of the door is supported out or away from the heel of the door, thereby relieving a large amount of the stress or strain usually found in doors where the hinge is mounted at the heel or lower edge of the door.

The hydraulic operator or door check is supported in asuitable recessed portion of the lower leaf 12 (Fig. 2) and is generally indicated by reference character 50. The operator comprises the cylindrical housings 51 and 52 (Fig. 4) secured together by a plurality of annularly disposed stud members 53 and 53' interconnecting the housings 51 and 52 through cooperating flange portions 51a and 52a. The operator may be secured at its top to the lower leaf 12 by the flange portion 54 having suitable threaded apertures 55 for receiving securing studs in the usual manner.

The operator 50 is disposed in a cut-away or recessed portion 56 of the lower frame 12. The housing 51 is provided with a circular housing portion 57 having a chamber 58 provided therein and communicating with the interior of the housing 51 for the reception of the upper extremity of the upstanding stud 45 cooperating with the lower oflE-set arm 34. The stud 45 is formed or provided with a circular gear 60 having peripheral teeth 61 (Fig. 3) disposed in the chamber. 58 of the housing 57. The stud 45 is provided with a reduced upper extension 63 journalled in a bearing unit 64 provided at the closed end of the housing 57. A closure member 66 having a sealing ring 67 and suitable bearings 63 surrounds the stud 45 and acts as a closure and seal off for the stud 45 and operating gear 60 disposed in the recess 57. The gear 60 is of larger diameter than the stud 45 and the teeth 61 are adapted to have meshing engagement with teeth 69 of a rack gear 70 disposed in the chamber 71 provided in the housing 51 and in communication with an aligned chamber 72 in housing 52 (Fig. 4).

The rack 70 is disposed in the chamber 71 of the housing 51 and has threadedly secured thereto a piston rod 73 provided with a circular piston 74 secured at its' outer end by a suitable nut 74a. A circular shaft or rod 76 is threaded at 75 into the opposite end of the rack gear 70and extends into the chamber 72. A bearing member 77 having an aperture 78 through which the rod 76 extends is provided in the chamber 72 and acts as an anchor for one end of a helical spring 80 surrounding the rod 76. The opposite end of the rod is threaded at 81 to receive a collar 82 provided with a lock nut and acting as the opposite end anchor for the spring 80. The housing 52 is provided with a lower extension 83 (Fig. cooperating with a flange portion 84 on the housing 51 for supporting a screw member '85 extending through a lower threaded aperture 86 of the bearing 77. The threaded member 86 acts as a screw jack which upon rotation will adjust the position of the bearing 77 relative to the spring 80, thereby varying the tension of the spring as is desired. It will be apparent that the tension of the spring 80 may vary as the door is repeatedly opened and closed and it may be necessary to increase the tension in order to hold the door tightly closed. The screw member provides for variable adjustment of the spring by the stop member 77, and can either build up tension in the spring by compressing it, or decrease tension by relieving compression, depending upon the weight of the door and variation in pressures and the like.

The piston 74 is provided with an orifice 87 and a check valve 88 therein. Suitable sealing rings (not shown) may be provided on the outer periphery of the piston flange 74 if desired, The chamber 71 on both sidesof the piston flange 74 as well as chamber 72 is filled with any suitable hydraulic fluid for cooperation with the piston '74, as well as acting as a lubricating medium. All the moving parts in the operator unit other than the piston 74 are provided with necessary clearance to allow the fluid to move freely without restriction and at the same time, provide a lubricating film for elimination of wear and the like. The self-lubricating feature provides for a continuous and heavy operation of the door for longer periods of time and is particularly advantageous in providing lubrication around the spring assembly, thereby decreasing the possibility of the spring breaking or snapping due to an overheating of the operating parts when the door is used continuously in rush traffic.

The upper body portion of the housing 51 is of an increased thickness for the provision of axial passageways 89 and 90 (Fig. 3) communicating at one end thereof with the vertical passageways 91 and 92, respectively, for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. The opposite end of passageway 89 is enlarged at 93 in which is threadedly disposed a needle valve 94 having a tapered portion 95 extending into the passageway 89. In a similar manner, the passageway 90 is enlarged at 96 for threadedly receiving a needle valve 97 having a tapered end 98 extending into the passageway 94 It will be apparent that the passageways 89 and 90 cooperate'with the piston 74 in the door closing operation which at the initial start thereof will seal off the fluid in the chamber 71a behind the piston 74, and will seat the valve 88. In this stage, the fluid is directed through the vertical passageways 91 and 92 into passageways 89 and 9t), and the speed of the fluid moving through these two passageways is controlled by the adjustable needle valves 94 and 97 for directing the fluid back into the chamber 71. Vertical passageways 99, only one of which is shown (Fig. 4), cooperate with the horizontal passageways 89 and 90 and provide communication therefrom with the chamber 71. The above dash pot arrangement is known as shown in Fig. l, and upon opening movement, the

off-set hinge arms 34 and 38 permit a swinging of the door whereby the heel of the door will move out from the door jamb, thereby causing the door to be moved back so that the door in open position will be approximately forty percent on one side of the jamb and sixty percent on the opposite side, all of which is well known in the art. The advantage of the ofi-set hinge principle is to permit atmospheric pressure to work against the two opposite faces of the door with opposite pressure effect, thereby permitting the door to substantially counterbalance itself. The closing of the open door under its own power and at a smooth and easy speed is completely controlled by the door check or operator 50 cooperating with the bottom hinge 34. Upon opening movement of the door, pivotal movement of the off-set hinge arm 34 will rotate the stud 45 and its connecting pinion 60 which in turn will move the rack 70in a left hand direction according to Figs. 3 and 4. Movement of the rack 70 in such direction will simultaneously move the connecting rod 76, thereby compressing the spring in chamber 72. The piston rod 73 and the piston 74 are also simultaneously moved in the same direction, thereby permitting the hydraulic fluid constantly present in the chamber 71 to act upon the ball check valve 88 for flow into the chamber 71a behind the piston and then to be directed into'the vertical passageways 91 and 92, and hence the longitudinal passageways 89 and 90. It will be apparent that as the door is opened, there is no restriction or cushioning effect whatsoever by the action of the piston 74 and the rack 70. However, the helical spring 80 is placed under compression so that upon closing movement of the door, it will expand in a right hand direction according to Fig. 4 to actuate the door to a closed position. It

will be apparent that when the door starts to close, the spring 80 pulls the rack bar 70 in the opposite direction and this force is transmitted through the pinion gear 60 and stud 45 to the door itself.

In order to provide a cushioning effect and also control the speed of the door closing, the movement of the piston 74 is controlled by the hydraulic fluid present in the chamber 71a and passageways 89 to 92, inclusive, providing a dash pot or hydraulic cushioning effect on the movement of the piston flange 74 in the right hand direction. In this movement of the piston, the ball check valve 88 is closed by the fluid pressure and the velocity of the fluid passing through passageways 99 back into the chamber 71 determines the velocity of the piston movement and consequently, the speed of the door closing. The adjustment of the needle valves 94 and 97 determines the fluid velocity. The passageway 90 is shorter in axial length that passageway 89, consequently, the piston 74 moving in a right hand direction prior to closing either passageway 92 or 91 is moved at a greater speed due to the greater volume flowing through passageways 89 and 90. This greater speed occurs during the initial closing movement of the door. However, the piston 74 upon moving past the vertical passageway 92 in its right hand directional movement will close passageway 92 to fluid pressure in chamber 71a so that only vertical passageway 91 and its communicating passageway 89 are available to the fluid pressure, thereby causing a decrease in the amount of fluid volume re-entering the chamber 71, and consequently slowing down the closing action of the door.

One end of the housing 51 is provided with an aperture 100 for receiving a suitable threaded stud (not shown) providing a connection with the lower leaf 12 of the door From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention contemplates a combination balanced door and frame member which is controlled in its swinging movement by a hydraulic operator whose actuating mechanism operates in a direct aligned movement. The actuating spring is in horizontal alignment with the hydraulic checking mechanism of the operator, and all are disposed in the lower leaf of the door to increase the smooth and efficient operation of the door opening and closing. The assembly of the hydraulic operator is simple and durable and yet cooperates with a door in'a manner to permit easy removal and replacement without any disassembly of the door frame or other component parts thereof. Furthermore, the straight line direct action of the spring and piston member in the aligned cylinders containing hydraulic fluid are constantly lubricated by the hydraulic fluid for protection and durability of the working parts thereof.

The lubricating fluid is sealed against leakage from the operator unit.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claim without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

In a door check structure adapted to be disposed in the lower leaf of a door comprising a housing having horizontally aligned cylinders, a projecting portion provided in the housing, a pinion gear disposed in the projecting portion and adapted to be secured to an upstanding stud of a door hinge, a rack bar horizontally disposed in one of the aligned cylinders and engageable with the pinion gear for movement in opposite directions in response to rotation of the gear upon rotation of the stud during opening and closing of the door, a rod extending horizontally from one end of the rack bar and having a helical spring disposed therearound, means for anchoring each end of the spring disposed at either end of said bar, screw jack means providing for sliding movement of the anchoring means at one end of the bar for adjusting the tension of the helical spring, a piston rod extending from the opposite end of the rack bar in horizontal alignment with the helical spring, a piston carried by the rod and movable in one of the cylinders in opposite directions in response to movement of the rack bar, dash pot means for controlling the movement of the piston in one direction in response to actuation by the spring when the spring expands between the anchoring means and comprising a pair of horizontally disposed passageways provided in the housing, one of said passageways of greater length than the other of said passageways and both passageways communicating with said last mentioned cylinder at each end thereof, and valve means provided at one end thereof in each of said passageways for controlling the fluid flow through the passageways upon movement of the piston in one direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Carlson Sept. 30, 1952 

